How a space simulator recreates the decade-long journey to Comet 67P

Space · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Can a game for small green humanoids truly capture the complexity of deep space exploration? Through the Shared Horizons update, players can now reenact the iconic Rosetta mission, navigating the intricate orbital physics required to reach Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko after a ten-year voyage through our solar system.

The Rosetta mission remains one of the European Space Agency's most significant achievements, involving a ten-year journey through the solar system to reach its target, Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Launched in 2004 via an Ariane 5 rocket, the mission's success relied on precise orbital mechanics to eventually land on the comet's surface. This historic endeavour began in 2004. The spacecraft navigated the solar system for a decade before finally reaching its destination.

To bring this complexity to a wider audience, the European Space Agency (ESA) partnered with developer Squad and publisher Private Division to release the 'Shared Horizons' update. This free update for Kerbal Space Program allows players to build perfect replicas of the Ariane 5 launch vehicle, utilizing its specific stages, engines, and systems to tackle real-world ESA scenarios. This collaboration aims to immerse players in celestial exploration. Users can even construct imaginary hybrid rockets by combining various components.

Even for seasoned experts, the physics can be unforgiving. In a simulated version of the mission, space enthusiast Scott Manley used the game to recreate the Rosetta flight path, scaling the comet's semi-major axis to Kerbin's orbit. While the simulation provides a high-fidelity environment based on realistic aerodynamics and orbital physics, real-world missions face unpredictable challenges, such as the engine and harpoon failures that occurred during the actual Rosetta mission. The update also includes a scenario for the BepiColombo mission. This joint venture between ESA and JAXA is currently heading towards Mercury.

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